The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has extended a key deadline requiring manufacturers to disclose internal safety data on 16 toxic chemicals, shifting away from earlier regulatory timelines under the Biden administration.
Amudalat Ajasa reports for The Washington Post.
In short:
- The EPA moved the reporting deadline for unpublished health and safety data on 16 chemicals from March 2025 to May 2026, citing the need to address industry concerns and finalize agency guidance.
- The chemicals in question — including benzene, BPA, and vinyl chloride — are used in products ranging from plastics and tires to gasoline and adhesives, and are linked to cancer and developmental harm.
- Environmental advocates argue the delay undermines chemical safety evaluations and public health protections by allowing companies to postpone disclosure of crucial risk data.
Key quote:
"This extension invites industry to withhold existing studies from federal regulators and makes it harder for EPA scientists to protect children, workers, and fenceline community residents from highly toxic substances.”
— Jonathan Kalmuss-Katz, senior attorney at Earthjustice
Why this matters:
Many of the chemicals in question are embedded in daily life — found in plastics, gasoline, paints, and even rubber tires. Some are well-established carcinogens or endocrine disruptors. The delay in reporting health data could slow federal efforts to evaluate risks, regulate exposure, or warn the public. Communities living near industrial facilities are especially vulnerable to ongoing exposure. Without timely information, regulators can't act quickly to mitigate harm or enforce protections under the Toxic Substances Control Act. The extension signals a broader regulatory shift, raising concern among scientists and health advocates that industry interests will increasingly be prioritized over public health in chemical oversight.
Related: Congress rejects Biden-era pollution rules for U.S. tire manufacturers
